How do you ask for groceries in French?
Start with “Bonjour !” Then say “Je voudrais…” (I would like…) followed by the item and “s’il vous plaît” (please). For example: “Je voudrais quatre pommes, s’il vous plaît.” means “I would like four apples, please.”
Faire les courses means doing the grocery shopping or everyday shopping errands. A small grocery shop is une épicerie; a supermarket is un supermarché.
French shopping vocabulary you can use today
| French | English | A little context |
|---|---|---|
| Bonjour ! | Hello! | Open a conversation. |
| Je voudrais… | I would like… | Ask politely for something. |
| Un litre de lait | A litre of milk | Name an item and quantity. |
| Quatre pommes | Four apples | Put the number before the noun. |
| Combien ça coûte ? | How much does it cost? | Ask about a price. |
| Merci, au revoir ! | Thank you, goodbye! | Finish the conversation. |
For whole milk, use du lait entier. “A litre of whole milk” is un litre de lait entier. After a measurement such as un litre, use de before the item.
Une pomme is one apple; quatre pommes is four apples. In writing, the plural noun takes an s.
A simple French grocery-shopping conversation
This original practice dialogue uses the items and fictional price from Langoor’s first adventure. Actual shop prices vary.
Bonjour ! Je voudrais un litre de lait entier et quatre pommes, s’il vous plaît.
Hello! I’d like a litre of whole milk and four apples, please.Bien sûr. Voilà !
Of course. Here you are!Merci. Ça fait combien ?
Thank you. How much is that?Ça fait quatre euros soixante.
That comes to four euros sixty.Voici cinq euros.
Here are five euros.Et voici votre monnaie.
And here is your change.Merci, au revoir !
Thank you, goodbye!What if you don’t understand the reply?
You can say “Je ne comprends pas” (I don’t understand) or “Vous pouvez répéter, s’il vous plaît ?” (Can you repeat, please?). For a particular word, try “Que veut dire ce mot ?” (What does this word mean?).
In Langoor, you can also open a sentence for an English explanation or ask your coach to help you compose a reply. Reading this guide is free; a new in-game AI explanation uses one credit.
Try a small shopping challenge
- Greet the shopkeeper and ask for two apples.
- Ask where you can find the milk.
- Ask for the total, then say thank you and goodbye.
Open the example answers
Bonjour ! Je voudrais deux pommes, s’il vous plaît.
Où est-ce que je peux trouver le lait ?
Ça fait combien ? Merci, au revoir !
Use these as starting points. Try changing the quantities or asking the same thing in your own words.
Put the phrases into a little adventure
In A favor for Mom, you have €10 of fictional money to bring home one litre of whole milk and four apples. The correct groceries cost €4.60. Explore, meet a neighbor, find the right items and talk with the cashier in typed French.
Try the French grocery adventure10 free AI credits for a new account · No card needed
More about learning French with Langoor